The
Seniors Are Cool Program is an Intergenerational
Program that consists of events and programs
that bring together the seniors of the community
and the students of the Grade 5 class of the
Grandview K-12 school. The program originated in
2004 and is very successful today.
What are intergenerational
programs?
Intergenerational programs are events and
activities that bring together old and young, kin and
non-kin, to learn, play, celebrate and work together.
Why are intergenerational
programs important?
We live in an age-segregated society where, other than
within families, few opportunities exist for meaningful
interaction between people of different ages.
In the
community, children are separated according to school
grade, and while young and middle age adults may work
together, they tend to maintain social relationships
with their peers. Older people spend time together in
senior’s centers or at senior’s events. Few people have
a close friend 20 to 30 years older or younger than they
are. Yet each generation holds a unique perspective that
has the potential to enrich life.
As long
as the contact does not happen naturally, it is
necessary to create intentional intergenerational
opportunities to foster relationships, share resources
and strengthen our community. This is why we need a
strong voice for, and a clear vision of, the role of
intergenerational programming in our communities.
Who benefits from
intergenerational programs?
Both students and seniors benefit from intergenerational
programs.
Students
receive an expanded outlook on life, improved
self-esteem and school performance, and an increased
sense of citizenship. Intergenerational programs provide
an opportunity for students to learn various stages of
the life cycle, promote active living, see seniors as
more than grandparents and learn skills of another
generation. Intergenerational programs can help students
develop social skills, provide visual, auditory and
tactile stimulation and individual attention and time.
Intergeneration programs also help students develop a
positive attitude toward the process of aging, give
students the opportunity to explore their own aging and
can help reduce the fear of aging. Students connect with
community, engage with positive role models, learn new
cultural and historical perspectives and better
appreciate the legacy seniors have created for them.
For
seniors intergenerational programs improve access to the
community, quality of life and self-esteem. They reduce
isolation, stimulate mental capacity and promote
lifelong learning. Intergenerational programs provide
visual, auditory and tactile stimulations, friendship
and laughter and a sense of newness. Intergenerational
programs allow seniors to lead by example, be a role
model and learn about the children of today. They also
offer seniors the opportunity to contribute to and
reconnect with the community, to serve, to feel needed
and re-kindle the joy of living.
Some of
the activities and events that both students and seniors
participated in are:
- I
Love to Read Month
- A
Perogy making session
-
Making Stepping Stone Mushrooms
-
Movie and popcorn
-
Cultural Days Cooking
-
Game of Scrabble
-
Spending a day the Grandview Drop In Centre and
participating in Drop In Centre activities (pool,
bingo, card playing, shuffleboard)
-
Christmas Craft- making a tree wreath
-
Constructing a bird house
-
Tour of the Museum
In the
month of June, as the school year comes to an end, a
year-end party is held, where it will be the last time
that the student and senior will be participating in an
event together. It also gives them time to not only
reflect on the year's events but to reflect upon the
wonderful friendship that they have formed. 
